Casting-machine.



J. BURKHARDT. CASTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED DEO.17,1910.

Patented Aug. 25, 1914.

' 5 SHEETS-SHEEY lv \NVENTUR g/yv 3. BURKHARDT. CASTING MACHINE.APPLICATION FILED DEO.17, 1910.

Patented Aug. 25,-191 L 5 SHEETSSHEET 2.

x INVENTOR 2; ATTO NEY5 I J glkiim fb/ 3. BURKHARDT. CASTING MACHINE.APYLIGATLUN FILED DBU.1'I.1910. L

Patemed Aug. 25, 1914 5 SHEETS SHEET 3.

9 I /1 4 INVENTOR IflQMAVflMM ATTORNEYS 3. BURKHARDT. CASTING MACHINE.urmonum FILED 950.17, 1010.

Patented Aug. 25, 191% 5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

K12, ATTORNEYS,

' NITED era-ar as PATENT. orr es.

JOHN sunxnaan'r, on NEW YORK, N. Y,

' CASTING-MACHINE.

- Specification 81 Letters Patent. PatentedAug, 25, 1914;.

application filed. December 17, 1910. Serial Il'o. 597,744.

'b all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN BUnKHAnDT, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of the city, county, and State of New York,

have invented certain new and useful Im provemefnts in Casting-Machines,of which the following is aspecification. I

My invention relates to casting machines. It has for its object toprovide a machine which will automatically, quickly and cheaply castarticles of any desired shapes or sizes or of varying or irregularshapes OP'WhICh .Wlll be adapted to cast a great variety of diflerentarticles at the same V vent-ion Figure 1 is a side elevation of suchforni'c-f my improved device. Fig. 2 is a plan;v Fig. 3' is avertica'lsection taken be-'.

separating or time; alsolto pirov ide means formore easily reaking upthe finished cast-' inginto-its constituent cast parts; and-also meansfor-reducing the waste and for makin portions of waste into usefularticles in the accompanyingdrawings, forming pagrhof thisfspecificatioml have shown my improvement in its preferred form;

[Referring-to this embodiment of my intween the chains showing inelevation one seriesflof the movable mold blocks with the funnels, gatewaysandother parts. Fig. 4.: is. a horiz 'ontalsection taken on thelines 4:,4 of Fig; 1.- Fig. 5 is a detail of the delivery of a castarticle. Figs. 6, 7 and8 illustrate an elevation of my improvement inwhich movable plungers are employedto occupy part ofihe molding spaceduring'the casting operation, Fig. 6 showing a vertical cross-sectionthrough. the chains and other parts of the upper. part of the apparatus,Fig. being a horizontal section on the lines 7,.7 ofgE ig. 6, ig. 8being a detail of the plungerand its cam. Figs. 9, 10 and 1 1;illustrateanother modification for preventing waste orifor making useofthe waste parts of the castings, Fig. 9 being a vertical elevationshowing the gate-way, funnel and the face of one series of moldingblocks, Fig. 10 being a top view of the mold of Fig.0, omitting certainparts, and Fig. 11

being a vertical vcrosssection. Figs. 12 and 33 are detailsof avmodification;

l xi i my'improvement I provide a plurality (if series of movable moldblocks adapted to be broutghttogether to form molding spaces of anyesiiedgshape and size. provided with blocks. any desired shape or sizeand maybe of suitable 'gate ways for leading the metal to the moldinspaces and adapted to be s'eparated togdischar e the east articles." Themold blocks may e of any suitable shape or construction-and may beconnected together infamy suitable inan'ner. In the ,machine shown in,the drawings they consist'of end-' less chains providedwith mold linkblocks- I chains in any suitable mannerand the linksare securedtogether'in the usual manner, 'so as to-engage the teeth of the sprocketwheels 4l. Each'molding block extends across the whole width of thechain from one sprocket wheel toanother as shown in Fig. ,2.- Thevarious mold blocks are pro- -vided with any suitable shaped spaces andthese spaces form one half or part of complete molding spaces, the otherpart being of course supplied by the opposite molding These moldingspaces may bfi'nfif varying or irregular shape as illustratedin Fig, 3,where are shown a number of. differ cut-molding s aces 7 of difierentand irregular shapes an sizes adapted to makedifierent articles.

Suitable gateways arepi'ovided foisupplying metal to .the moldingspaces= practice I prefer to'juse main gate-ways and subgate-ways forleading the metal to the various molding spaces, and in practice. .Iprefer to use two main. gate-ways with subgateways leading fromvveachfas shown in 8,-8 are two funnelsiorsupplying metal, each leadingto a ma'uigate-way 9. Each gate way 9' is provided with: subgateqvays 10leading to the various molding spaces 7.

It will of course be understood that as the opposing mold blocks of thetwo.) opposite series of chains 3' are brought together, as-

the chains are moved by the sprocket wheels (in the direction of thearrows shown in Fig. l), as illustratednear'thetop of Fig.

1, the various molding;1spaces ;.7, the main articles together with thewaste matter in the gate-ways will be discharged as illus-' There a castarticle 11 is trated in Fig. shown in the act of dropplng out.

By means of my improvement articles of different shape and size and ofany irreguvide numerous sub-gateways .tWo or more for each moldingspace. This size may be cast and a great lar shape and be cast at thesame variety of articles may time. I

By my improvement I am enabled to pro 3 preferably enables the moldingspace to be quickly and readily filled. For this. purpose also I preforto employ two or more main gate-ways each provided with its own funnel,as shown By proper sub-gatc-ways these in Fig. 3.

main gateways cooperate with one another.

The chains may be driven by any suitable means. Those shown consist ofsprocket wheels 12 and 13 meshing 'with each other andlatiording' motion.from one chain to the other chain. A shaft .5 upon which gear 13 ismounted may be driven from any source of power (not shown).

F or the purpose of making articles of a different and larger size orirregular shape it is sometimes preferable to construct a main gate-wayso that it could shift in its course relatively to the line of movementof the chains or blocks instead of being always parallel. Thus while thegateway 9 Mt e right of Fig. 3 isvshown as vertical, or in ither wordsis parallel to the line of move ment of the chains, gateway 9 is shownas shitting relatively to the line of movement of the chains atdiilleront times. Thus in the upper part of Fig. 3 the main gate-way 9is to the left as it is at the bottom, but at the intermediate points itis shifted to the right. This is to enable the placing of thelargercctangular space 7 shown inside the curve of the main gate-way asappearing on Fig. 3. It is, of course, necessary with a shifting maingateway to also shift the horizontal position of its funnel 8.Accordingly the left hand funnel 8 is shown as a movable one adapted toshittits position horizontally or across the machine, viewed in Fig. 3,to correspond with the shifting of the main gateway. Any suitable meansmay be employed for shifting the funnel. Those which I employ are asfollows: The left-hand funnel 8 is carried or supported by two rings15,16 having collars 17 and 18 respectively. Col- 17, for it will beunderstood that there is one on each side of ring15, loosely encircle across rod iii-fixed in side supports 20 the lefthand main and 21 of themachine. -,T(l"lthis same rod 19 the right hand funnel '8 is secured bya ring 22 and a collar 23 is fastened to the ring and to the rod. Collar18 of ring 16 of the movable or left hand funnel 8 is made fast by acollar 24 to a shifting rod 25' mounted in cylindrical openings in thesupports '20 and 2.1 and free to move horizontally in them. lt will beunderstood that. there are two rods 19, one on each side of the funneland but one red 25. Spring 26 is secured at one,end to ring 16 and atthe otherend to sup iort 21. It tends to pull the movable or lett handfunnel S to the left as viewed in Fig. The funnel is pulled to the rightby means of cum surfaces 27 projecting from the right hand end ofcertain oi the blocks 1, as shown in Fig. 3L An arm 28 encircles and isfast at its upper end 29 to rod 25 and at its lower end has a wheel 30pressing against the right ends of the blocks 1. The cams are shaped andpropm-tioned' of course so as to move the tunnel 8 to the right orpermit it to be pulled by spring 26 to the left so as to'conform withthe shifting of its main gateway 9.

In Figs." (l -8 I have shown a plunger adapted to be moved into an.occupied part of a molding space during the casting operation of theblocks, with suitable cams for moving it into and out of operation. Thisenables the shape of a molding space to be altered to suit circumstancesand permits of the use of larger molding spaces.

The plungers 'inay be of any desired size and shape and may be movedinto and out of position in the molding space by any suitable means. Asshown in Figs. 68 31 are plungersadapted to bemoved into the moldingspaces '7 by means of arms 32 provided at their ends with wheels 33running in cam grooves 3i. These cam grooves are shaped so as to insertthe plunger and withdraw it at the proper times. Fig. 6 shows the upperplunger 31 in position in its molding space and shows the lower plunger81 withdrawn from its motding space. By thescmeans castings of a greatervariety of shape may be made thanwould be otherwise possible, andcastings with recesses on an i or every side.

in order to obviate much as possible the waste of metal on account ofthe main and sub-gateways I preferably provide means for forming themetal remaining in the main gateway or gate-ways at the time of(lelivery into useful articles. In Figs. 9-11 I have illustrated mypreferred devices forthis purpose. As there shown I provide 9 andprojecting upward through the center of tunnel 8 a core 35 which may beof sand or any material suitable forv that purpose. For this purpose Iprovide the tunnel 8 with in thc ccnler of the main gateway.

ing such restricted portion 40. 4A fastened to.

an inner cylindrical sleeve 361st its upper part to form a: guide forthe core. 37-457 are properly shaped .Wheels suitably'supported(supports not shown) for also guiding the core. -38-38 are knobs orprojeo tions from the opposing faces of the mold ing-blocks 1 to act, asguides for the core. Such knobs are provided at suitable distancesapart, only one set of them being shown in Fig. 11. In this Way themetal filling,- the gate-Way 9 is formed into a useful article, namely,a pipe instead of being merely Wastematerial that would have to bemelted and used over again.

By making the, knobs or projections 38 continuous so as to form .acomplete circle aroundcore 85, the pipe will be divided into sections ofcertain prescribed lengths or if the projections do not quite touch thecore there will be restricted parts which can be easily broken through.Similarly I preler at certain prescribed distances apart to restrict themain gate-ways 9-9, even where a core is not used, by an inner circularprojection .upon'the blocks in order to provide that the'casting will bethinner at such points and can be more readily broken.

in Fig. 3 I have illustrated such a restriction at and in Fig-121 haveshown such a continuous ring or c rcular pro ectionland 111 Fig. 13I-haveshovvn a portion ofthe Wastefrom main 'ate-wa 9- after deliver hatib-i1, secured to brackets the side frames of the machine, act as guidesfor pi-( jections,t-242 extendingpfrom the edges of the molding blocks,thus keeping the molding blocks in proper alincrnent and position.

4-3 is a backing of asbestos which I prefer-- v ably employ on themold-blocks for eo'nservv ing heat.

The term metal as usedin the .speci Election and claims is used broadlyto indionto any suitable metallic or other substance in fluid or insemi-fluid condition at the time of casting and adapted to set andadapted for use in a casting machine. My invention is, however,peculiarly applicable to making castings vfrom molten iron al-- thoughnot limited'to this material.

In the machine-shown the line of movegate-ways and into the molding,spaces. It

will be understood however that vwith any ot er suitable means or methodfor forcing the metal into such spaces in a direction other thanvertical, the line oat movement of the molding blocks and the line ofthe main gate-ways need notbe vertical.

'Many changes and modifications in or from the particular form ofmechanism shown in the drawings antimony-departures therefrom may bemade Without departing from my invention.

It will, of course, be understood that in first beginning operationswith, my improved casting machine,-it Will be necessarytotemporarilyplug up the bottom of each main gatewayuntilthe gateway andthe sub-gateways and molding spaces above it have been filled. This canbe done by. any suitable temporary plug. After the machine has once beenin'operation and is stopped-atmthe close of the day or for any reason,the place of the temporary plug can-be filled by leaving it-he machi'nesoithat a QRSti-llglS only partly discharged, such asthe position/of thecasting-ll; shown in F ig.'5. ThiS Will act as a plug until the machineis started again. Upon starting the ma'chine,.either' in the first orany subsequent operation,'the temporary plug or the casting charged. inthe usual Way;

In practice, 1 prefer to vsmarrange the molding spaces andthegatewaysand subgateways so that the cubical. contents of 11 will een.

them all yvillbeapproximately the fisame in any given unit of length ofthe molds; in order to obtain as even a, fiOW of'mete ..=:a

possible. This Will tend to obviate-331115 overflow of metal. at anyparticular; Should such an overflow, however. occult? any reasoinit may.he pro'videdafor in=sn for suitable. way, as for example, VIi1eans-hfl. The combination of a plurality of series of movable mold-blocksadapted to be brought together to form anplinality vofmolding spaces ofany desired sizes-and shapes, a plurality of 'main gate-ways for thepassage of thevmetal, and a plxralityo-f sub-gateways for leading thetal from the main gate-ways to the moldii g spaces,

the difi'erent. series of-mold-blocks adaptedto be-sepa'rated'todischarge the cast articles, and a funnel for each main gate-Way lorsupplying metal thereto.

I QR-The combination of a plurality of chains provided with mold linkblocks adapted-to be brought-and moved together .to form a pluralityofmolding spaces often) desired sizes and shapes,a main gate-Way tor thepassage of themetal shifting in its course from the line of movement ofthe chains, and sub-gateways for-leading the metal. from the maingate-way teithe molding' spaces, the chains andmold link-blocks adaptedin their further increment to be separated to discharge the castarticles.

. The combination oi a plurality oi chains provided 'with moldlinlcolocks adapted to be brought and moved together between them hollowspaces adapted to conto form a plurality of molding spaces of anydesired sizes and shapes, a main gate-way for the'passage of themetalshifting in its course from the line of movement of the chains, andsub-gate-Waysfor leading the metal from the main gate-Way to the moldingspaces, the chains and mold link-blocks adapted in their furthermovement to be separated to discharge the cast articles, and a movablefunnel for supplying metal to the main gate-way adapted to shift itsposition to correspond with the shifting of the main ate-way. A

4. he combination of a plurality of chains provided with moldlink-blocks adapted to be brought and moved together to form apluralityt' molding spaces of any desired sizes and shapes, a plurality of maingate-ways for the passage of the metal, one or more of said gate-Waysshifting in its course from the line of movement of the chains, aplurality of sub-gate-Ways for lead ing the metal from the maingate-ways to the molding spaces, the chains and mold link-blocks adaptedin their further movement to be separated to discharge the castarticles, a funnel foreach main gate-way for supplying metal thereto andmeans for shifting the )osition of a tunnel to correspond with tieshifting of its gate-Way.

5. In a molding machine the combination with a plurality of series ofmovable moldblocks adapted to be brought together to cause thecorresponding mold-blocks in the diti'erent series to form between thema hollow space adapted to constitute a molding space and to be separatedto discharge the cast article, of a plunger of desiredsize and shapeadapted to be moved into and to occupy part of the molding space duringthe casting operation and to be withdrawn at or prior to the separationof the blocks.

6. In a molding machine the coithbination with a plurality of series ofmovable moldblocks adapted to be brought together to cause thecorresponding mold-blocks in. the different series to form between thema hollow space adapted to constitute a molding space and to be separatedto discharge the cast article, of a plunger of desired size and shapeadapted to be moved into and to occupy part of the molding space duringthe casting operation and to be withdrawn at or prior to the separationof the blocks, and a cam for moving the plunger into and out of positionin the molding space at appropriate times.

7. The combination of a plurality of series of movable mold-blocksadapted to be brought together to cause the corresponding mold-blocks inthe different series to form stitute a molding space and a gate-way forleading the metal to the molding space provided with a restrictedportion to en-l able the said gate-way portion of the cast ing, whenremoved, to be more readily broken. I

8. I The combination of a plurality of series of movable mold-blocksadapted to L be brought together to cause the corresponding mold-blocksin the different series to fornr between them hollow spaces adapted toconstitute a molding space, a main gate-way for the assagetoi the metalprovided with a restricted portion to enable the said gateway portion ofthe casting, when removed, to be more readilybroken, and a sub-gatewayfor leading the metal from the main gate-way to the molding space, thediil'erent series of mold-blocks'adapted to be sepa rated to dischargethe cast articles.

9. The combinationof a plurality of series of movable mold-blocksadapted to be brought together to form a molding space and a gate-wayfor leading the metal to the molding space, and a core for the gate-wayadapted to form the metal finally remaining in thegate-wav into a usefularticle.

10. The combination of a pluralityof series of movable mold-blocksadapted to be brought together to form a plurality of molding spaces ofany desired" sizes and shapes and a gate-Way for leading the metalto'each molding space, the different, series of mold-blocks adapted tobe separated to discharge the cast articles, and a core for the maingate-way adapted to formthe metal finally remaining in the gate-way intoa useful article.

11. The combination of a plurality of series of moi-able mold-blocks,adapted to be brought together to form molding spaces and to beseparated to discharge molded or cast articles, provided with moldingspaces for different shaped articles, a main gateway for the passageofthe metal shifting in its course from the linc of movement of themold-blocks, and sub-gate-ways for leading the metal from the maingate-way to the molding spaces. I

12. The combination of a plurality of series of movable mold-blocks,adapted to be brought together to form molding spaces and to beseparated to discharge molded or cast articles, provided with moldingspaces for different shaped articles, a main-gateway for the passage ofthe metal shifting in its course'from the line of movement oi themold-blocks, and sub-gate-ways for leading the metal. from the maingate-Way to the molding spaces, and a movable funnel for supplying metalto the shifting main gateway adapted to shift its position to correspondwith the shifting position of the gate- Way. I 13. In a molding machine,the combina tion of a plurality of series of movable moldblocks adaptedto be brou ht together to form a gate-way, the molds eing so shaped andarranged as to cause the gate-way to name to this specification, in thepresence of shiift its position in the molds, and a funnel twosubscribing witnesses.

a apted to shift or move with the shiftin 7 gate-Way so as to be inposition to fnrnis JOHN BL RKHARDI' 5' metal to the gate-wayirrespective of its W'itnesses:

position in the molds. Eowm SEGER,

In testimony whereof, I have signed my JOHN O. GEMPLEK.

